Christian Aid stages virtual climate protest

With 100 days until world leaders meet in Copenhagen to forge an agreement on tackling climate change, Christian Aid staged a mass virtual trespass at E.ON Ironbridge power station.

Instead of taking direct action to close down the power station, the charity beamed images of Christian Aid supporters onto the plant’s cooling tower.

In the images supporters held up messages to Prime Minister Gordon Brown encouraging him to take the lead in brokering a deal to end climate change and to attend the Copenhagen summit in person.

Natalie Williams, whose image was beamed onto the power station, said: “I’m doing this to raise awareness.

“Copenhagen isn’t just a talk. Real decisions need to happen there for a sustainable future, not just for ourselves, but for our children as well.”

Another participant in the virtual trespass, Reverend John Routh, said: “Climate change endangers us all. Halting it is urgent – the highest priority any government should have.”

Christian Aid said it is planning a series of mass virtual trespass events over the next four months.

“Ironbridge was an appropriate target for our first Mass Visual Trespass because it is the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution,” said Paul Brannen, Christian Aid’s head of campaigns.

When world leaders meet in Copenhagen, Christian Aid wants them to commit resources to ensure developing countries are able to adapt to climate change.

“Climate change is already having a devastating effect on the people we work with in developing countries,” Brannen said.

“Vulnerable communities are bearing the brunt of unpredictable weather patterns, droughts, floods, tropical storms and higher incidences of disease. For these people, climate change is now a matter of life or death.”